Gower Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gower Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Gower Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Tantanoola
Established	21 January 1971 (1971-01-21)
Area	40 hectares (99 acres)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Gower Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located near the town of Tantanoola. This park is about 353 kilometres (219 mi) southeast of Adelaide, the state capital. It's also about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of the city of Mount Gambier.

About Gower Conservation Park

Gower Conservation Park is a place where nature is protected. It used to be called the Gower National Parks Reserve. The park covers an area of 40 hectares (99 acres), which is about the size of 40 football fields.

History of the Park

The land for the park was first set aside on January 21, 1971. It was created under a law called the National Parks Act 1966. At that time, it was named the Gower National Parks Reserve.

Later, on April 27, 1972, a new law came into effect. This was the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. This new law changed the park's name to Gower Conservation Park. This change helped to protect the area even more.

Why Gower Park is Important

In 1980, experts said Gower Conservation Park was very important. It showed what the original eucalypt forests in South Australia's lower southeast used to look like. Protecting this park helps us see and understand the natural environment from the past.

What the Park Looks Like

The park has a unique landscape. It has rolling hills made of old sand dunes. These dunes are covered with sandy soils that are brown or grey. You can also see some limestone rocks sticking out of the ground. These rocks are mostly in the middle and southern parts of the park.

Plants in Gower Park

The main type of forest in Gower Park is an open forest. It has many messmate stringybark trees and brown stringybark trees. These trees have rough bark.

Underneath the tall trees, there are smaller plants. You can find austral bracken ferns. There are also some spike wattle plants and grass trees. You might also spot some silver leaved banksia plants.

In the southern part of the park, there's a special area. Here, you'll find manna gum trees with rough bark. There are also some large black wattle trees growing there.

Protecting Gower Park

Gower Conservation Park is listed as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's recognized internationally for its natural features. It's a place that helps protect important natural monuments and features.